"So, now thaet ya've told me, how long are ya gonna stay." Ted saw her look down and realized what he had said; she had nowhere to go or else she would have headed there. "Ah! Ya have nowhere to go." It wasn't a question. His next mission. "Would you like to stay here awhile?"

Maya brightened up. "Ya mean, I cin stay?"

It was clear that he had surprised her with his proposal. "Sure. I'll jest ask my uncle. I'm sure he won't mind." He saw her hesitation. "He's nice," he reassured her.

Maya stood up and grabbed her bag. "'Kay."

Emmy thought for only a moment. "I think I have Art class next," she said. She wasn't especially good at art, but she still liked it.

Logan fished through his pocket and pulled out his class schedule. He stared at it, moving his finger down the listings as he looked for his next class. "Let's see...." His shoulders slumped when he found it. "Oh, gee, Chemistry. Fantastic." His voice was dripping with sarcasm, and he sighed dramatically.

"I don't see what the big deal is, Logan," Emmy interjected. "Chemistry's not that hard... and besides, it's sort of fun."

Logan stared at his sister as though she were from another planet. "Chemistry, fun? Don't be such a nerd, Emmers."

Emmy just looked away, and didn't reply. I was only trying to be positive, why does he snap at me like that? She was used to Logan teasing her all the time, but she was slightly embarrassed when he did it around her schoolmates. She hoped desperately that none of them would ever join him in mocking her.

"Hey" Brian said to Logan giving him a look. "Emmy's right. Chemistry isn't that bad. Plus, you don't need to get rude" he then shot a reassuring smile toward Emmy

***

Glaring vehemently at Amanda the stranger stood and barked "Where is the back door?"

**

"What's her address? do you know?" Ian asked

*****

"what are the police coming for?" Abigal cried, in panic "Did you call them?"

"What's next?" Declan asked. "My favorite part of a school day. Music class! WOOT! WOOT!"
Declan took a deep breath, and smiled as he thought of playing his Trumpet. "TRUMPET! OH SNAP! I forgot to get my trumpet from my locker because of the Alarm!"
Declan then tore off in the schools direction, "See ya guys later! Hate to have a victory and run, but I gotta go!"
Declan wasn't the biggest fan of running, but when he had to, he did.

Logan really, really disliked being rebuked... especially by Brian. Logan threw up his hands in mock surrender. "Wow, sorry, didn't mean to offend the Chemistry Squad." He chuckled. "Just chill, Brian. She's my sister, I can joke a bit if I want." He shot him a firm glare.

Emmy was glad that Brian had stuck up for her, but she didn't want to be the center of an argument. She wanted to tell Logan to just be quiet, but decided to stay quiet herself, instead, hoping the issue would just pass away.

Peter said, "Well, I hope Jen is in my next class." He looked at his schedule then hers. "Yes!" The two of them hugged, excitedly. "I'm glad we get a class togehter
Jen squealed, "I know." She covered her mouth, embarrased by her squeal. "Oops." She looked to Logan, "Hey if this gives you any comfort, English is my best subject and I hate chemistry."
Peter shrugged. "I like P. E."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Johnny was taking a walk in the park, when he spotted a bruised, battered little girl. That's odd. He knelt down to her. "Hi little girl. What is your name?"

Declan ran through the school doors, and stopped running a short moment when he passed Ms. Hallend.
“Hello, Ms. Hallend.” Declan said, “Having a nice day?”
Before she could answer, Declan was running down the hall.
“Peculiar boy.” Ms. Hallend said as she watched him run off.
Declan slid past his locker since the floor was newly waxed, and his converse were wet with rain water. He ran back to his locker, and began fidgeting with the lock.
what is the combination? Declan thought. how long have I used this thing, and my mind chooses to forget now? COME ON!
Declan continued to think, 1-9-8-4? No, that was Elementary school’s locker… that was when I used the year that The Karate Kid came out. Come on! I need to get my trumpet! Aha! Trumpet: Louis Armstrong’s Birth year: 1-9-0-1
Declan pushed the numbers in, and he heard a satisfying click, “Ah, music to my ears.” Then he pulled his trumpet case out, “And I need to get to music class!”

Brian opened his mouth again ready to snap back at Logan with a comment, when the thought wholly and what he was about to say. He's right....he is her sister. But that's no reason to embarrass and make fun of her in front of everyone he returned the glare Logan shot at him and just moved off down the hall. "I've got Math class next if anyone's interested" he was crabby right now, and just wanted to be left alone.

**

Melisha awoke slowly, the sound of a person's voice piercing her phase of dreams. "What...who?" she whimpered shaking herself from the tired stupor she was in. Shivering she looked up into the face of a man she had never seen. Shrinking back, she clutched onto the tree "Who are you? You aren't sent here by my father are ya?" she asked.

**

Ian took a seat on a local park bench and waited for an answer from Justin on the other line. "I've been released by the way"

Johnny asked, "Is your dad Darth Vader?" He tried giving her a playful smile to lighten the mood.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Justin told Ian her address and warned her, "She is very cranky. Make sure you watch your words.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
SHocked at Brain's anger, Peter wondered if it was directed at him. He rushed to Brian. "Wait."

Logan watched Brian go, thinking it a victory. He whistled a long note and turned to the others. "Wow, he's in a bad mood, huh? Just storming off like that?"

Emmy finally decided to speak up. "Just shut it, Logan," she said, and marched off down the hall. "I have to get to class."

Logan stared in shock for a moment, then laughed it off. "Some people just can't take a joke, I guess." He looked back to Jen the only one left. "So, I guess I'll catch you and Peter later. We're still on for skateboarding later, right?"

Jen shook her head. "THere is no indoor ramp. What if we catch a cold?"

Logan shrugged. "Yeah, that is a problem... I'm hoping it will stop raining by the end of school." He glanced casually down the hall, and saw Peter talking with Brian. Pete should just let him be... if he wants to storm off, who cares? I don't like him anyway. he thought.

Brian turned as Peter caught up to him. He sighed and kicked the floor with his show. "Hey Pete....sorry I got so angry, this day just is getting worse and worse. First Logan shows up, then we have a fire drill, then it rains...bullies chase us and Logan AGAIN makes fun of Emmy. I'm just....having a really bad day" he said sulkily

**

"Worse!" cried Melisha her bruised arms wrapped around the tree behind her. Indeed she knew who Darth Vader was, but in her own eyes her Father was a nightmare compared to the fantasy character villain. Looking down, she tried to figure whether this man could be trusted or not. He seemed nice...but everyone did outwardly. He was muscular and tall, with blondish hair and blue eyes. His face was a light-hearted smirk and she kinda liked him. "Who are you?" she whispered

*

"Alright." Ian said repeating the address again and again in his head. "Don't worry Just, I'll stand me ground" He smiled to himself and the nick-name he had given him

**

"Where is the back door?" cried the man, grabbing a hold of Amanda's arm and shoving her back into the wall. His urgency had turned into anger when she wouldn't speak.

*****

Abigal heard Amanda cry out, and there was a thud against the wall. Worried, she exclaimed "Mandy!?? Amanda are you alright!!?"

Amanda knew she shouldn't have let him in, but he seemed so helpless. "Some guy who says he knows you." Just then, paramedics showed up, with the fire department and a police officer, who handcuffed the man and read him his rights. The policeman said, "Maybe you shouldn't have said 'no cops' when she was on the phone."
Amanda was still panting, sweatign at what just happened. "He begged me to let him in and sounded so weak. But if he was able to push me against the wall, then I guess he isn't."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Justin smiled at the nickname. "Okay." He hung up, after saying bye and walked into the room with his wife and girl.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Johnny teased, "King Peter, the magnificant. Just kidding. I'm Johnny Thomas." Then, he grew serious. "You've been abused?"
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Jen looked at Logan. "We can go skateboarding if it stops raining."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Peter said, "That's okay."

"Do I look that bad?" Melisha asked touching her face. She sighed and hung her head. "Yes I have been. But please don't tell anyone else I'm here! If my Father finds out I ran away and I'm hiding, he'll kill me! I know he will!" she said coming to her feet weakly. She was thin and pale, with purple bruises on her arms and face. A gray sweat shirt was pulled over her lighter blue T-shirt, and she wore a older pair of light jeans. "I know...I don't look very good" she said and redid her pony-tailed hair.

*

"You can't...do this!" cried the man looking at his wrists cuffed tightly together. Then, suddenly he was taken by a wave of weakness and collapsed in a kitchen chair. His wound, dripped blood down his shirt. He looked at Amanda, hurt in his eyes. I suppose I under-estimated her....though I never expected this..

**

Maralyn was holding little Sarah, a smile on her tired face. "She's happy...." she said

***

"Thanks Pete....I just hope it gets bettter when we shoot hoops later. That would brighten my day" Brian said arriving at the class room door

***

Ian kept repeating they address that's where I'm going.. he thought